The app includes a “Knock knock” feature.
Tech giant Google on Monday launched its video calling app, Google Duo, for Android and iOS users.
The new app, which will compete with FaceTime and Skype aims to take the “complexity out of video calling.”
Google first announced the launch three months ago at its I/O developer conference and it isn’t much different from the other video chatting services and released on Tuesday as a free service for phones running on Google’s Android operating system as well as Apple’s iPhones.
It gives a glimpse at who is making the call, helping the recipient decide whether to answer. This feature is named as “Knock, knock”.
“Video calling is the next best thing to being with someone in person. We have designed the interface to be simple, easy and welcoming. In places like India, it has been designed to adapt to the network connectivity conditions. We hope to make the experience of video calling more personal, inviting easy and smooth,” Google Group Product Manager Amit Fulay said in a statement.
All Duo calls are end-to-end encrypted and the app allows users to connect using their phone number without a separate username/account.
“Duo has been built to be fast and reliable, so that video calls connect quickly and work well even in slower networks. Call quality adjusts to changing network conditions to keep you connected when bandwidth is limited, Duo will gracefully reduce the resolution to keep the call going smoothly,” Google said.
For video calls on the go, Duo can switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data automatically without dropping the call.
Google has been offering video calling through its Hangout feature for several years, but the internet company is now tailoring that service for business meetings.
Google, owned by Alphabet Inc, is also preparing to unveil a new messaging app called Allo featuring robotic assistant that will suggest automated responses to texts.